Sliding buckle for strap ends



May 7, 1963 E. BITTNER 3,088,184

SLIDING BUCKLE FOR STRAP ENDS .Filed Sept. 22, 1960 INVENTOR. 772525:277:67

w TTORNE YS fates nite This invention relates to improvements in asliding buckle for strap ends, and more particularly to fastening meansfor straps ends, the invention being highly desirable for use inconnection with the straps on sandals, shoes and other articles offootwear, belts, carrying cases having shoulder straps, and variousother devices as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various devices have been developed for connectingstrap end portions together, and the most common of these formerly knownstructures is the prong-type buckle, wherein the prong of the buckle isselectively inserted in one of a series of holes in one strap endportion, while the buckle itself and the prong are hingedly secured tothe other strap end portion. Other types of strap end connectors havebeen made including a buckle of rectangular configuration on one strapend having a bar centrally disposed thereacross, with a sliding serratedelement thereon, and the other strap end being threaded through thebuckle over the bar and the serrated slide engaging it to hold the partsfirmly connected. In still another instance a pair of like rings wereutilized on one strap end and the other strap end threaded through andbetween the rings in a manner that the rings pressed one against theother to lock the strap end in position. However, in each instance withsuch securing elements, and particularly where they were utilized on astrap that engaged the human body, parts of the structure were directlyin contact with the body of the user or with the apparel of the useraround which this strap means was fastened. This was particularly truewhere such formerly known strap connecting means were utilized insandals and other articles of footwear, and particularly with regard tofoot exerciser sandals where the strap connects over the front portionof the foot, and the foot must be naked in order to properly wear thesandal and receive the exercising benefit therefrom. Consequently therewas likelihood of the strap, rivets, or other portions of the fasteningmeans gouging the foot of the user in an uncomfortable manner, and inthe event hosiery was worn, there was danger of injuring the hose.Likewise, in the case of belts worn around a dress or other garment,there was likelihood of injury to delicate fabric by means of projectingmetallic portions of the strap fastening means. Further, with securingmeans of the type of the commonly known prong buckle, there was dangerof painfully pinching the body at the time the strap end portions areconnected.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide fastening means for strap ends so arranged that nometallic parts can come in contact with the body or whatever else thestrap means are disposed around and wherein the strap end portions maybe very facilely connected in a secure manner.

It is also an object of this invention to provide fastening means forstrap ends highly desirable for use on sandals and other articles offootwear and wherein the strap end portions may be facilely connectedwithout danger of pinching or injury to the body or apparel, and simpleslide means are incorporated to maintain the strap ends connected.

Also a feature of the invention resides in the provision of fasteningmeans for strap ends so constructed that the strap end portions may bepadded, present a clean and uninterrupted undersurface, and yet befirmly secured together in a selective degree of adjustment simply andpositively.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of fasteningmeans for strap ends wherein one strap end portion may be provided witha series of aligned apertures therein, and the other strap end portionhas an upstanding stud for selective engagement in one of the apertures,and a slide member carried thereon has a slot therein to slide over theapertured strap end portion and engage the stud to maintain the partsconnected.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision offastening means for strap ends wherein one strap end portion is providedwith a series of apertures, while the other strap end portion isprovided with an upstanding headed stud selectively insertable in one ofthe apertures, and this strap end portion is also provided with aslotted slide element wherein when the element is slid over the stud andover the other strap end portion the slot engages the stud beneath thehead thereof.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of simplefastening means for strap ends which may be made of any desiredmaterial, of any desired color, and are extremely pleasing in appearancewhile being highly effective in operation.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosure, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a sandal having straps equipped withfastening means embodying principles of the instant invention, showingthe same in operative position upon a diagrammatic representation of ahuman foot;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged transverse sectional view takensubstantially as indicated by the line II-II of FIGURE 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the upper centralportion of the fastening means of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a greatly enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially as indicated by the line IVIV of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view illustrating a diiferent usage for thefastening means embodied in this invention.

As shown on the drawing:

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is first shownassociated with a foot exercising sandal comprising a block 1 having .aconformed top to provide exercise to the foot when the sandal is worn,and a resilient tread 2 underneath the block 1. A strap 3 is secured toone side edge of the block 1 by any suitable securing means indicated at4, and the corresponding strap portion 5 is secured in similar manner tothe opposite side edge of the block 1. The straps are shown engagedaround a human foot 6 to hold the sandal in operative position upon thefoot.

The fastening means embodied in the instant invention are associatedwith the end portions 6 and 7 respectively of the straps 3 and 5. Asseen best in FIGURES 2 and 4, the end portion 6 of the strap 3, whichcontacts the foot of the user when the sandal is worn, is preferablymade of upper and lower layers 8 and 9 of leather, simulated leather, orany other desirable or suitable material, with a layer of cushioningmaterial 10 disposed therebetween, which cushioning material might bepadding, foam latex, or a thermoplastic foam such as vinyl orpolyurethane foam so that the entire strap will feel soft against theuser. The layers 8 and 9 may be secured together in any suitable manner,such as by stitching 11. It will be noted that the undersurface of thelayer 9 is clean and uninterrupted, presenting a soft and smooth surfaceto the users body or apparel. No metallic parts extend through thislayer to contact the body or apparel of the users A strap section 12 oflesser width is secured to the upper layer 8 of the strap end portion 6by rivets 13 or man equivalent mariner-Q Preferably through both thisstrap section 1'2 and the upperlayer 8 an upstanding stud l4'extends,the stud having an intermediate collar 15 thereon and a crushed lowerend'ISa whereby the stud is riveted to the top layer 8 and'the strapsection 12. The up'per portion'of the stud is'provided with a groovelfi'therearound to definea-head 17. A slide element 18, substantially inthetorm' of a sleeve, and provided with downwardly and inwardlyextending fian'ges 19 on each side thereof to embrace the strap section12, is freelys'lidable along the strap section between the stud and theopposite end of the strap section. From approximately a central portionto the inner edge thereof, the slide member 13 is provided with a slot20 therein of suflicient size to engagethe portion of the stud inthegroove 16 of reduced diamet'er beneath the head 17, and the rear end ofthis slot is expanded and beaded as indicated at 21.

' The other strap end portion 7 may also be of oneor more layers ofmaterial as above described, and this end portion is provided a seriesof aligned apertures therein defined by eyelets 22. That is all it needhe provided in connection withthis strap end portion.

In operation, the instant'inventionis' extremely simple and eifective.When it is desired to connect the strap end portions, it is asimpleexpedient to lift the portion 7 sufiiciently to clear the stud 14, asindicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 4, after the slide 18 has beenretracted or drawn away from the stud as shown in the same figure. Thetip of the portion 7 is then entered within the slide if it reaches thatfar, and a selected eyelet 22 is lowered over the stud 14, at thedesired degree of tightness of the strap end. The slide 18 is then moveduntil'the stud'is' received-in the recess or slot2 0 beneath the head 17and the slide'is moved the head 17'is received in the expanded andbeaded portion 21 of the slot, which more efiectiv'elysecures the headin position and enhances the overall appearance." It will be notedthatwhen the slide is engaged with the stud, the upper face of the slideis disposed over the strap end portion 7 and under' the head of thestudso'thatthere is little'possibility of the parts becomingaccidentally loosened, they remaining firmly connected, and yetnometallic parts of m riad contact thebody'or apparel of the juserwhich isonly contacted by the smooth and uninterrupted underface of the layer90f the strap end portion 6.

It will be noted that the eyelets 22, stud 14, and slide 18 may be madeof any suitable plastic material or of metal, and given any desirablecolor or decorative efiect so that the fastening means are very pleasingin appearance and enhance the overall appearance of the strap means withwhich they are associated, rather than detract therefrom.

In FIGURE 5 I have illustrated the same fastening means as abovedescribed associated with the ends of a belt 23 merely for the purposeof indicating that the instant invention may be used to connect the endsof a single strap element, in addition to connectingadjacent ends ofseparate straps. Obviously, the invention will have nu merous uses andpurposes as will be apparent to one skilled'in the'lart, in addition tothose illustrated in the r g 7 I-t' will be understood thatmodifications and variations may beefiect'edwit hhut departing from thescope of the novelconcep'ts of the present invention. 7' i I claim as myinvention:

Fastening means for elongated strap ends, comprising:

(a) a pair of strap'end portions, one of said portions having anaperture therein, the other strap end portion compri-sing'outer andinner layers of material withpadding'therebetween, the inner layerhaving an inner uninterrupted surface;

(17) an upstanding stud fixedly secured within said other of saidportions to said outer layer and positioned to abut said padding, anexternal portion of said stud being receivable in said aperture, saidstud having an external length greater than the thickness of said oneportion, and having a peripheral groove disposed outwardly of saidthickness; and

( 2) a ig d s e membe arr e by ai other P r ion in such a manner that itis movable over said one portion only in the direction of the length ofsaid other portion, said member having means defining a slot ofsubstantiallyuniform width receivable in said groove and opening at oneend into an outer edge of said member, and being closed at its other endand terminating in an outwardly extending U-shaped head portionreceivable in said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

